CR Tuff Lucy, ridden by John Mitchell, and Johnny Royal, ridden by Russ Westfall, shared the first day’s high score of 222 in the NCHA Classic Challenge Saturday as the NCHA Summer Cutting Spectacular, presented by Great American Insurance, got underway in Fort Worth, Texas.
CR Tuff Lucy was bred by Center Ranch and is owned by Glade Knight’s Slate River Ranch of Weatherford, Texas. She is by Woody Be Tuff out of Lucindas Catolena. An earner of more than a quarter-million dollars, she won the Abilene Spectacular and was reserve champion of the NCHA Derby under Tarin Rice, and was reserve champion of the Super Stakes Classic this spring with Mitchell.
Johnny Royal is a 5-year-old gelding bred by Frank and Belinda Vandersloot, and owned by George and Charlene Lane of Lancaster, California. He’s by CD Royal out of Sues Best Bet, a daughter of three-time World Champion and $1.4 million producer Meradas Little Sue. Johnny Royal was reserve Non-Pro champion of last year’s Pacific Coast Derby with Russ Westfall’s son, Brandon. The gelding has earned more than $44,000.
Five horses marked 220 or better on the first day of competition. They included Some Kinda Highbrow (High Brow CD) ridden by Austin Shepard at 221; Countess Cat (Im Countin Checks) ridden by John Sanislow at 220; and Eazee E (High Brow Cat), ridden by Tatum Rice, also at 220.
The first round continues Sunday, with the second round scheduled for Monday.